Grass

Grass is a decentralized data layer that lets users monetize their unused internet bandwidth by contributing to a distributed web scraping and data collection network. Users install the Grass browser extension or desktop node, which uses their idle bandwidth to access publicly available web data. In return, participants earn GRASS tokens proportional to their contribution. The fundamental insight behind Grass is that AI companies and data providers need massive amounts of web data for training models, market research, and analytics, but accessing this data at scale is expensive and centralized. Grass decentralizes this process by creating a distributed network of residential IPs that can access public web data without relying on centralized proxy providers or data centers. This creates a more diverse, censorship-resistant, and cost-effective data collection infrastructure. For users, Grass represents a novel "earn while idle" model. The extension runs in the background and uses only bandwidth that would otherwise go unused — there's no impact on regular browsing speed or computer performance. Users earn Grass Points that convert to GRASS tokens, creating passive income from an underutilized resource. The network has attracted millions of participants worldwide. The data collected through the Grass network is structured, validated, and made available as training datasets for AI and machine learning applications. This positions Grass at the intersection of two massive trends: decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and the insatiable demand for AI training data. The protocol essentially creates a decentralized pipeline from raw web data to AI-ready datasets. Grass operates on Solana, leveraging the blockchain's speed and low costs for tracking contributions, distributing rewards, and managing the data marketplace. The GRASS token launched with one of Solana's largest airdrops in late 2024, rewarding early network participants and generating significant community engagement. The network has grown to become one of the largest DePIN projects by participant count, demonstrating strong product-market fit for bandwidth monetization. Beyond individual users, Grass is building partnerships with AI companies and data consumers who need the structured datasets the network produces, creating sustainable demand for the protocol's services.